BB,Yes. Even though we benefited tremendously from wonderful reviews by Jane and Michael, national and local news and great word of mouth from folks like you, I think we were thought of as a "fancy" place and lost business because of it. I guess I did not do a good enough job of marketing. regards,Randy

Would like a little back ground info on Stone's anyone know where I could get it? Husband's family grew up here and would hate to see it purchased and have the venue changed. We have more than enough Chinese and Mexican resteraunts in Marshalltown already, we need a good down home family resteraunt like Stone's. I would love to see the history of Stone's carried on.

Nunya,What type of information would you like? Stone's is for sale through Coldwell Banker in Marshalltown.There will be a forced public auction sale on March 6 if it is not sold prior to that. Thanks for your wish to see the history carried on. I would like that too.

Originally posted by Randy1887 Turn on the gas in the kitchen and it's ready to go.

Dearfolk, Be careful with that gas stuff or you'll evoke that old 45 hit by Jigsaw: "You've blown it all sky high." -- That would really be an ill-fitting, ignominous end to such a magnificent place. Like many of you, although I've never been to Marshalltown, I'm intent on keeping up with this thread. Here's hoping the place reopens and prospers. It would be a sobbing, crying shame if that weren't ultimately to be the case. Stone Glad To Be Here, Ort. Carlton in All-Too-Often-Everybody-Must-Get-Stoned Athens, Georgia.P. S. When it does reopen, I will plan to drive out to Marshalltown and patronize the place. Now I will leave all 28,180 other "stone" puns to other posters... I'm caught between a rock and a hard place.

My husband and I have looked at it and would dearly love to purchase, we would also like to see the second floor restored. What we are discussing is whether we have it in us to put in the man hours to get it done. Speaking of the gas thing I did mention to the realator when we looked at it I thought I smelled gas, they thought it might have been something kicking on but to be safe you might want to have that checked. I did see in the paper that it was going up for auction and just about cried. I was not born and raised here but my husband and his family were and Stone's has been such a large part of the history in Marshalltown (I have been doing some research on Marshalltown). Have you had it registered with the Historical society? I really loved going there to eat just like I loved going to Breitbach's over by Dubuque. Same type of place with the whole history thing going on. Down home, made from scratch family cooking. We need more of that and less of this fast food garbage.

Thanks Nunya. We stop by about every other day just to make sure things are okay. There is usually a faint smell of gas when the furnaces kick on. I do appreciate you mentioning it. Did you go upstairs when you looked at it? In pretty bad disrepair now but could be rejuvenated. The Stone family lived up there for three generations until 1979 when my Uncle Don died. They lived on the south side of the building by the railroad tracks and rented out the rooms on the north side. There is a big round common room in the middle where, I think, the first TV in Marshalltown was. People used to come to the restaurant and bring their kids upstairs to watch TV while the parents ate downstairs. My great grandmother, who was in her 90's, used to spend a lot of time watching TV with the kids.We never got around to registering it. If you have not heard, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Breitbach's (Iowa's oldest restaurant) burned on Christmas Eve. Thankfully, no one was injured and the Breitbach's will rebuild and re-open. Breitbach's is the only restaurant that served both the Jesse James gang and Brooke Shields!Thanks for the kind words about Stone's. Don't cry. I have the feeling someone will buy it and carry on.Best Regards,Randy

We did go upstairs and I thought it was wonderful. Yes it is pretty bad but you have to look beyond that to what it was and could be again. I just pray that who ever buys it sees the same thing I see. If I thought for one minute I could get the backing needed and the man power to help I would give it a fighting shot. But at the stage we are at right now we can not afford for either one of us to quit our jobs and take it on. I still plan on attending the auction and praying that who ever buys it will respect it's past and the history it has contributed to Marshalltown. The little bits of history you talk about are the things that people should know about. To me that is what makes it even more special. I did hear about Breitbach's and was greatly saddened by the news. Whenever we rode the motorcycle over that way we always made a point to stop. Mike was always there with a smile and a firm handshake to make us feel welcomed! Glad to hear he plans to rebuild!

BB, Sorry for the very late reply. The building and business are still for sale! Jim Bacino at Coldwell Banker Realty in Marshalltown (641-754-5678) is handling the sale for Pinnacle Bank with now owns the property. Thanks again for your interest.

That is certainly good news. I will be passing through Iowa over the Summer of 2010 and hope to spend at least 2 full days of gorging myself with Iowa Pork Chops, Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches and Sour Cream Raisin Pie.

Hey, Stone's can't close! I grew up visiting all the time from Iowa Falls in the 60's and still have the taste of that mile high lemon chiffon pie on my lips. Living in New Zealand now, but passing through on or around September 7 2009. Gotta have one more piece of pie! Will it reopen in time? Thanks!